# His head just popped right off! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 9, 2015, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386 "2015-01-09T12:39:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![LunarPlexus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LunarPlexus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LunarPlexus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2015, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386/61 "2015-01-10T15:43:12Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > I invented cmykwon-do, and I have an infinityith degree black belt in it. I’m giving myself the infinity-plus-one belt tomorrow once I pop my own head off and glue it back on with my own magical testosterone. > > Y’know, for America and freedom and stuff. K belt? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386/62 "2015-01-10T16:59:06Z")
> [@LunarPlexus](#): > > K belt? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2015, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386/63 "2015-01-10T18:08:26Z")
> [@chacoguy](#): > > I’m pretty convinced that he’s a real person whom served well and did some crazy stuff. He’s still full of shit, just like that guy that cornholed Jesse Ventura, or something. > > ETA: responding to obbn. I actually read _American Sniper_ by Chris Kyle, and I will say most of what he wrote about reads pretty true (there was no mention of Ventura), mostly since he doesn’t go on and on about how badass he is/was - he does go on about how professionally most of the soldiers he worked with acted, and that his high count was mostly due to being in the right place at the right time. I have friends that are SOF - they next to never talk about it with most people, although they have shared with me, mostly because I don’t ask about it but still have some understanding so they don’t have to explain everything. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386/64 "2015-01-10T18:15:52Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > Instantly, I was back in combat. All my American Warrior Free Fighting practice got unleashed. React. React. React. No thought involved. When I first read this sentence, I thought “Sounds like he is using this book to promote this American Free Fighting style rather than tell a factual story.” Then I click on the link Army link and there he is in a martial arts outfit. And there is this line, “O’Neal currently teaches seminars on his own developed fighting style, American Warrior Free Fighting System, where he is a 10th degree black belt.” So it turns out that the American Warrior Free Fighting (AWFF) system is a martial arts style that he developed himself and goes around teaching. My guess is that he embellished his Vietnam fights in order to promote his AWFF. It’s important to note that he doesn’t teach his martial arts system at the Special Forces Qualification Course, he teaches at Robin Sage, a culminating event and simulated foreigh internal defense mission. The martial arts taught at the school house is the Special Operations Combatives Program, a derivative of Matt Larsens (also a former Ranger) Modern Army Combatives Program. Before that, it was Ron DonVito’s (a former Marine) L.I.N.E.S. system. I don’t doubt this guy was a really a bad ass, and I don’t want to be too critical. I just think this part of his book is a combination of selfless promotion of his AWFF and the mixing up of several seperate events that actually did happen. He probably did throw a head at somebody, but not one that he just ripped off a living person. And maybe he did rip a head off a person for some reason, but maybe that guy had been dead a while. After 40 years or so, all of that craziness probably starts to blur together. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2015, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386/65 "2015-01-10T18:23:01Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Ummm… isn’t a warrant officer made by warrant because if he had a commission he’d be a commissioned officer. Warrant Officer 1 (WO1) are officers by warrant. But the next grades, Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2) and beyond, are commissioned officers. We still call them warrant officers, but legally they are commissioned officers and have all the same authority of other commissioned officers such as administering oaths and such. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2015, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386/66 "2015-01-10T23:46:10Z")
> [@bubba001](#): > > I’ve noticed, in a long career of drinking, that most everybody I’ve ever met that told me that they were in Nam, was either a Marine sniper, special forces, black ops guy, or CIA. I’ve literally never had anyone tell me they were any of those things. I mean I have plenty of friends who were Marines and whatnot. And in my previous line of work doing corporate data forensics consulting, I met a number of people professionally who were ex CIA, ex NSA, even former Halliburton. But none of them claimed to do anything more than what we did professionally - sift through databases and email servers and perform analysis. Also, bullshit on pulling a mans head off. Try just pulling one of your fingers off. You can’t do it! ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386/67 "2015-01-11T01:03:28Z")
Here is his official bio on the Ranger Hall of Fame site: > [@RHOF](#): > > CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER > > GARY L. O’NEAL > > 2010 Type: undefined > > Chief Warrant Officer (Retired) Gary l. O’Neal is inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame for nearly 40 years of service to his country and its allies. From Vietnam through both Gulf Wars, Chief Warrant Officer O’Neal served as a private, noncommissioned officer, Special Forces warrant officer, and special operations GS civil servant, in conventional and unconventional warfare on land, air, and sea. He has served with every branch of the US military, on every continent in the world. Ranger Gary Lee O’Neal grins wickedly, shrugs humbly, and remarks simply, “I trained hard.” > Ranger O’Neal bears scars from bullet wounds, shrapnel wounds, and bayonet-knife wounds from at least nine separate combat engagements. His service is characterized by nearly every combat qualification, multiple combat tours in Vietnam to include incursions into Laos and Cambodia, and long periods of perilous service in virtually every country of Central and South America. He has served on personal security duty for general officers in the Middle East, and also trained tens of thousands of American and foreign military personnel in every theater of the world. > His career is highlighted by Ranger-LRRP duty during Vietnam, his selection for duty with the US Army Parachute Team (Golden Knights), Department of Defense’s first Antiterrorist teams (Blue Light), and of the US Army’s first Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) course. > His awards and decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star w/V device, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal w/V device, three Army Achievement Medals, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/Gold Star, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Special Forces and Ranger Tabs, Master Parachutist Badge, Master Military Freefall Badge, and Combat Diver’s Badge. There are only about 340 total Ranger Hall of Fame inductees, so it’s not something that is handed out lightly. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386/68 "2015-01-11T02:41:41Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Also, bullshit on pulling a mans head off. Try just pulling one of your fingers off. You can’t do it! I jus\_ did and now i\_ is \_eally ha\_d \_o \_ype comple\_e wo\_ds. _hanks o no\_hin_, je\_k! S\_\_an\_e\_ ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386/69 "2015-01-11T03:43:29Z")
> [@LH75](#): > > Among firearms enthusiasts, there seem to be a huge number of people who were Marine Recon Special Operations Snipers. There are also a great many who are former Navy Seal Team Special Operations Snipers. > > They are on the internet, so it must all be true Here in Minnesota, we even had one elected Governor who was a Navy Seal before the Navy had formed Seal teams! ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386/70 "2015-01-11T04:14:38Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > I jus\_ did and now i\_ is \_eally ha\_d \_o \_ype comple\_e wo\_ds. _hanks o no\_hin_, je\_k! > > S\_\_an\_e\_ You know, you’re pretty damn funny for a rocket scientist. Hell - strike those last 4 words. ---
**Author:** ![Vaevictis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f04885/32.png) [@Vaevictis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vaevictis)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386/71 "2015-01-11T05:46:56Z")
I think he is getting brownie points with the people he worked with by fucking with the outsiders. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386/72 "2015-01-11T06:21:07Z")
Well, I can tell you that I also am a retired special forces commando, and I’m definitely calling BS. When you really pull a guy’s head off, there’s a load popping sound; a bit like the sound you can make pulling a hooked finger out your mouth. There is also a sound, a little like a trumpet blast, at the point where the severed head cannons into something. Finally, when an enemy soldier is truly terrified, the floor beneath them becomes momentarily friction-free, and they will just run on the spot, before finally disappearing at speed. That’s the image I see every time I close my eyes ☹ If he’d ever decapitated a guy, he’d have mentioned these things. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386/73 "2015-01-11T16:15:33Z")
Didn’t they used to call Vietnamese soldiers “zipper-heads”? Maybe this is why. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386/74 "2015-01-11T16:21:34Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > Well, I can tell you that I also am a retired special forces commando, and I’m definitely calling BS. > > When you really pull a guy’s head off, there’s a load popping sound; a bit like the sound you can make pulling a hooked finger out your mouth. There is also a sound, a little like a trumpet blast, at the point where the severed head cannons into something. > Finally, when an enemy soldier is truly terrified, the floor beneath them becomes momentarily friction-free, and they will just run on the spot, before finally disappearing at speed. That’s the image I see every time I close my eyes ☹ > > If he’d ever decapitated a guy, he’d have mentioned these things. I was with the Green Berets Special Unit Battalion Commando Airborne Tactics Specialist Tactics Unit Battalion (SPECUBCOMAIRTACSPECTACUNBAT). It was real hush hush. They called me Special Agent: Orange. I can tell you first hand that a head [makes a sound like this when you throw it at someone.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iew9op9aPLQ) ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386/75 "2015-01-11T16:24:11Z")
“He was wearing my Harvard tie. Can you believe it? My Harvard tie. Like, oh, sure, he went to Harvard.” Stranger ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386/76 "2015-01-11T16:30:00Z")
[I wondered if it looked anything like this!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8vTl-ZVayc):eek: ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386/77 "2015-01-11T16:31:34Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > My experience has shown the same, but this guy\* is\* on the US Amy site, and is known to be a top Ranger and Green Beret. I’m sure he legitimately was a very brave and accomplished soldier, but he’s still lying about some of the details. You can’t pull a man’s head off. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386/78 "2015-01-12T15:09:28Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Here is his official bio… Is nine combat engagements a lot? I assume it’s far more than a rank-and-file soldier will see, but it doesn’t sound like very many for a special forces operator who was deployed during an actual war. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386/79 "2015-01-12T19:09:13Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Is nine combat engagements a lot? I assume it’s far more than a rank-and-file soldier will see, but it doesn’t sound like very many for a special forces operator who was deployed during an actual war. 😕 He was wounded in nine separate engagements. There is no mention of how many he had where he didn’t end up with a wound. I am curious why there is no mention of any Purple Hearts though. According to that statement, he would qualify for 9 PHs. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386/80 "2015-01-12T19:46:45Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > Fair I think he said he met his wife while in country. Are Rangers usually deployed in Latin America long enough to get married and have kids? It is common where soldiers are deployed for long periods of time - South Korea, Germany, Japan, Turkey, places where the US has permanent bases. You’d think Rangers would deploy and then return to base once whatever operation they were doing was over. I suppose he could have been sent as an adviser (or “adviser”) to some Latin American military for an extended period of time - maybe those tours of duty would last long enough to marry and have kids. But that just brings up the question of why a comrade’s body would have to be brought back home secretly, and why an enemy would care enough about where the body was to subsequently find and kill two civilians not really connected to the operation. And why, murdering two people who were within their power, they didn’t also murder the third. It doesn’t help that it just sounds like action movie tropes strung together. Perhaps something bad did happen to his wife and children, but the brief story presented in **April R** ’s link doesn’t make a lot of sense. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-head-just-popped-right-off/709386.md?page=5)